20/02/98 - SADDLEDOME, CALGARY, AB

Review by Blair S Watson (Calgary Sun)
Bryan's the Best
Adams comes up with the goods
He may be a radio staple with his notable soundtrack balladry, but Bryan Adams can still rock -- and does. The Canadian artist packed the Saddledome last night with about 12,000 fans who seemed to be there more for his melodic rock anthems than his ballads. With his opening song, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You, Adams established what would be the order for the evening -- that is, healthy helpings of his fulfilling meat-and-potatoes rock complete with some unique shtick. Adams was joined onstage by a collective of rather thin, tall bolas-toting ladies who walked the stagefront like it was a catwalk -- a move that proved to be more cheesy than clever, however well received.

Adams' show also featured unique staging, with 200 concertgoers perched upon a dual-level elevated catwalk behind the band, proving Adams still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Tricks Adams need not rely on. With a set filled with highly recognizable hook-ridden tunes, there was little need for such window-dressing.

Although it could be considered a window-dressing of sorts, Adams was joined onstage by Irish musician Davy Spillane. He backed Adams with his soaring uillean pipes on Adams' acoustically performed ballad, When You Love Someone, as well as on a heavily reworked version of I'm Ready -- a song Adams recorded early in his career. Adams joked that the Irish pipes resembled a bong, causing Spillane some difficulty with Canada Customs.

But, the crowd was here for the hits -- and the hits they received as Adams sifted through his catalogue to serve up guitar-driven numbers including This Time and Cuts Like a Knife from his 1983 release of the same name, as well as material from throughout his career including a stomping version of Can't Stop This Thing We Started. With Adams being one of Canada's greatest musical exports, one should not be surprised by the quality of his performance, which was generally beyond reproach. To paraphrase an Adams song: Everywhere you go, the kids wanna rock. And last night at the 'Dome, rock they did.

Setlist:
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
Do To You
18 Til I Die
Back To You
When You Love Someone
I'm Ready
I Think About You
This Time
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
It's Only Love
Everything I Do
Touch The Hand
Kids Wanna Rock
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?
Cuts Like A Knife
Hey Elvis
Run To You
*Audience Band*
Somebody
Fits Ya Good
Heaven
Summer Of '69

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BA rocks Calgary

Bryan on acoustic

When Bryan formed the makeshift band from the audience at this show, little did he know that the singer, "Scott from Los Angeles" was teen actor Scott Grimes from television shows 'Who's The Boss' and 'Party Of Five' plus movies 'Critters' and 'Nightlife'.